Colombia Free Trade Agreement Resources

Colombia Background Material

USLEAP Analysis of Uribe's Progress on Violence and Impunity

A December 2009 critique of progress, or lack thereof, by the Uribe government in addressing violence against trade unionists and impunity.

USLEAP Impunity Report on Colombia

An analysis of the Colombian government's 2008 rulings on homicide cases of unionists. See Trade Resources for USLEAP's Impunity Report on 2007 rulings.

Escuela Nacional Sindical (ENS) Report on Trade Union Violence and Impunity

The ENS (National Labor School) is an independent Colombian NGO frequently referenced by the US government.  Death Isn't Mute is a November 2009 report on the violations to life, freedom and integrity of trade unionists in Colombia during 2008 and the issues of impunity from 1986-2009.

AFL-CIO Web Page on Colombia Free Trade Agreement

This page contains a variety of fact sheets, news articles, and a video on violence and impunity in Colombia.

"Workers' Rights, Violence and Impunity in Colombia," a January 2008 20-page report by the AFL-CIO that represents a recent overview of worker rights in Colombia.

"Justice for All: The Struggle for Worker Rights in Colombia" was released by the AFL-CIO on June 15, 2006. Authored chiefly by USLEAP staff person Robert Perillo, the report provides a detailed critique of worker rights violations in Colombia and U.S. policy towards the Andean country. The report and press coverage of its release highlighted Colombia's continuing status as the most dangerous country in the world to be a trade unionist as well as the near-total impunity under which only 1% of murderers are brought to justice.

The report, produced by the AFL-CIO's Solidarity Center, received media coverage in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Voice of America and a number of Spanish-language media. The report is available on the AFL-CIO's Solidarity Center website and upon request from USLEAP.

USLEAP Trade Resources Page

This has several resources specific to the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, as well as materials on other trade agreements.

Organizations

Plan Colombia, Foreign Aid, Fumigation, U.S. Policy

Center for International Policy
Human Rights Watch
Latin America Working Group
U.S. Office on Colombia
Washington Office on Latin America
Witness for Peace
Peace Brigades International

Worker Rights and Unions

AFL-CIO
Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT)
Colectivo de Abogados Jose Alvear Restrepo (CAJAR)
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
International Centre for Trade Union Rights (ICTUR)
International Labour Organization (ILO)
International Union of Foodworkers (IUF)
National Labor School (Escuela Nacional Sindical)
Solidarity Center